الْكَبِيرُ
The Greatest
Al-Kabir
The Greatest
The One whose greatness in essence, attributes, and actions is without bound or measure.
Ra'd 13:9
Virtue
Al-Kabir declares that Allah is great in the true meaning of the word—every greatness shrinks beside His. In Surah al-Hajj 22:62 He says: 'That is because Allah is the Truth, and what they call upon besides Him is falsehood. Indeed, Allah is the Most High, the Most Great.' 'Allahu Akbar'—'Allah is greater'—is this greatness in daily expression: the call to prayer, the opening of salah, the takbir on the way to sajdah. The servant who reflects on this name remembers how small worldly 'greatness' like rank, wealth, or fame is before Allah—tasting the relief of submitting the heart only to Al-Kabir.
Related Hadith
Abu Mahdhura (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) taught me the adhan as follows: 'Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar; I bear witness that there is no god but Allah…' and ordered me to proclaim it aloud five times each day.
[Buhârî, Ezân, no. 611]
